Motor disk plow.



J. M. HENTON.

MOTOR DISK PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1910. 1,004, 1 67. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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J. M. BENTON.

MOTOR DISK PLOW.

APPLICATION rum) NOV. 11, 1910.

1,004, 1 67. n d pt. 26, 1911.

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UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFTCE.

JOHN M. HE'NTON, OF EDGEMONT, SOUTH DAKOTA.

MOTOR DISK PLOW.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. I'IENTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Edgemont, in the county of Fall River and State ofSouth Dakota, have invented a new and Improved Motor Disk Plow, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are:to provide a carrying frame and traction mechanism therefor embodying aself contained motor and transmission mechanism arranged to prop-e1 thesaid frame intermittently and as controlled; to provide means for, atwill, varying the position of the driving wheels of the tractionmechanism relative to the guiding wheels of the said frame to vary thepivot on which the said frame is swung; to provide rotary plowingmembers and a rotary driving mechanism therefor arranged to rotate thesaid plowing members independently of the traction mechanism of the saidcarrying frame; to provide plowing devices constructed and arranged togrip the ground in a manner to form traction devices auxiliary to themain traction mechanism; to provide means whereby the rotary' plowingdevices are rotated at a peripheral speed in excess of the peripheralspeed of the traction wheels; and to provide rotary plowing deviceshaving peripheral extensions adapted to shear surface vegetation and toshatter the subsoil.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structureillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of a rotary disk plow embodying a tractionmechanism and controlling devices therefor, constructed and arranged inaccordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sameshowing the traction wheel in section, the section being taken on thehorizontal median line of the said wheel; and Fig. 3 is a detail view invertical section, showing a plowing disk and mounting Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed November 11, 1910.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

Serial No. 591,829.

ing frame for the plows is formed by two land side framing beams 1, 1, across header beam 3 and an inclined gang beam 2. The framing beams 1, 1are separated in parallel longitudinal arrangement, as shown best inFig. 2 of the drawings. Between the beams 1, 1 is supported a maintraction wheel 4. The wheel 4 is mounted on an axle pin 4* which ispassed through eyelets in the ends of swinging eye-bars 5, 5. Theeye-bars 5, 5 are provided with trunnions mounted in bearings 5, 5,disposed on the beams 1, 1, substantially as shown in the drawings.

The length of the eye-bars 5, 5 is regulated so that when the said barsare swung about their pivotal bearings 5*, 5, the wheel 1 will bedisposed in line with the rearmost of the plow members or the foremostthereof. The purpose in changing the relative location of the wheel 4 isto vary the pivot point on which the frame and plow members supportedthereby turn, it being understood that the wheel 4 is a pivot on whichthe frame turns. 7

The carrying frame is further supported by pivot wheels (5 and 7. Thewheels 6 and 7 are mounted on the extended ends of bracket arms 6 and 7,which are pivoted in vertical extensions 6* and 7 held in verticallydisposed bracket bearings 6 and 7. The bracket arms 6 and 7 are suitablycon nccted, and are provided with any form of steering apparatus forshifting the angular position of the wheels 6 and 7 with relation to theframe to guide the same. No steering gear is shown in the presentdrawings, the object being to avoid unnecessary complication in thedrawings.

The wheel 4 is provided with an internal gear ring 35, which is boltedor otherwise rigidly secured to the spokes of the wheel 4-. Meshed inthe teeth of the ring 35 is a driving pinion 36. The pinion 36 isfixedly mounted on a shaft 33, which passes through a perforation formedin one end of the innermost of the eyebars 5, 5. The trunnion formed onthe end of the opposite eyebar 5 and the shaft 33 are accurately alinedin the bearings 5 5 and form the pivots on which the eye-bars 5, 5 andwheel 4 rotate. In rotating the wheel 4 about the pinion 36 theengagement between the said wheel 4 and pinion 36 is maintained.

Mounted loosely on the shaft 35 is a gear wheel 34. The wheel 34 istooth engaged with a gear wheel 34 fixedly mounted on a short shaft 32.The shaft 32 is mounted in bearings 32 mounted on one of the beams 1,and forms one of the jaws of a knuckle joint 31. The opposite jaw of theknuckle joint 31 is formed on the main shaft 30. The main shaft 30 hasfixedly mounted thereon a main driven sprocket wheel 30 The sprocketwheel 30 is loosely mounted on the main shaft 30, and is operativelyconnected to a driving sprocket wheel 30 by means of a chain 30. Keyedto the shaft 30 adjacent to the wheel 30, is a clutch 37. When theclutch 37 is moved by the lever 37 to engage the wheel 30 the shaft 30and. transmission mechanism connected therewith are set in operation.Adjacent the gear wheel 34, and keyed to the shaft 33, is a clutch 34which clutch is operated by a lever 34 to engage or be disengaged fromthe wheel 34 to drive the shaft 33, pinion 36 and wheel 4.

By means of the arrangement wherein the shaft 33 and gearing connectedtherewith are, at will, moved into and out of operative engagement withthe driving mechanism, the wheel 4 may be stopped while the drivingmechanism of the machine operates to rotate the plow members, and bythem, as hereinafter described, assist in turning the plow about thepivot formed. by the wheel 4.

To drive the shaft 30 there may be employed any si1itable character ofmotor, that shown in the drawings being an internal combustion engine29. FiXedly mounted on the main shaft 30 are sprocket wheels 30 and 20The wheels 30 and 20 are relatively varied in diameter to transitthrough the chains 30 and 20 respectively different peripheral speeds tothe sprocket wheels 30 and 20. The wheels 30 and 20 are each looselymounted upon a countershaft 18, for the transmission of power to therotary plow disks 8, 8. The countershaft 18 is mounted in bearings 18*,18 supported on the carrying frame of the machine.

Interposed between the wheels 20 and 30 is a clutch 23, which clutch ismanipulated by the lever 26 to be thrown alternately into engagementwith either of the wheels 20 or 30 According as the said clutch engagesthe one or other of the wheels 20 or 30 the rotating of the shaft 18 isvaried by reason of the difference in the peripheral speeds of thewheels 20 and 30 on the main shaft cording to the 30. The variation inthe speed of the shaft 18 varies the speed of rotation of the plow disks8, 8, forming thereby a control in the operation of the plow resultingin better pulverizing or breaking up the furrow acground being worked.

The rotary disks 8, 8 are concavo-conveX, and are rotatively mounted onbolts 11 formed in the brackets 43, 44. The brackets are pivoted bymeans of a loop section 42 within the staples 40 and 41, which arepassed through the gang beam 2. Held rigidly between the loop section 42of the bracket and the gang beam 2, and supported at the outer or freeend on the arm 47 of the bracket, is a spring 45. The spring 45 operatesin each of the brackets to permit the disk 8 to lift when and as thesame strikes upon or overrides a partly hidden stone or other substancetoo hard for cutting.

The disks 8 are constructed at their peripheries to form a peripheralset of teeth 13, 13. The teeth 13, 13 are sharpened on the forward edgeto 01111 knife-like members for cutting surface vegetation or trailingrubbish. The following edge of the teeth 13, 13 are squared to formbearing surfaces for the rolling blocks connecting the links of thechains 28, 28. The teeth 13, 13 serve in this manner as sprocket teethfor the rotation ofthe disks 8, 8, being engaged for that purpose by thechains 28, 28. The chains 28, 28 are operatively engaged by idlers 14,14, which are mounted on the ends of brackets 14*, 14, which bracketsare secured by means of the bolts 11, 11 to the brackets 43, 44, asshown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The chains 28, 28 are endless, andthe opposite extensions of the said chains are engaged by sprocketwheels 16, 19, 21 and 21 The disks 8, 8 are thin metal disks, and arebacked by a shield 13 as seen best in Fig. 3 of the drawings.ltnterposed between the shield 13 and the arm 47 of the bracket 4344 isa bearing washer 10. The shields 13 are provided at their periphery withsprocket teeth 9, 9, which may be arranged to engage the chains 28, 28or other chains substituted therefor.

The operation of a machine constructed and arranged substantially asshown in the accompanying drawings, and as herein described, is asfollows: The wheel 4 is raised and lowered by means of a lever 48. Thelever 48 is pivotally mounted on the framing beam 1, and is pivotallyconnected with the innermost of the eye-beams 5. Fixedly mounted uponthe framing beam 1 adjacent the lever 48 is a toothed quadrant 49. Thelever 48 is provided with a grip lever detent bolt of usualconstruction, adapted to engage the teeth of the quadrant 49 to hold thelever 48. Any suitable connection between the lower end of the lever 48and the bar 5.may be employed. It will be seen that as the lever 48 isswung about its pivot the bar 5 is rotated on the shaft 33. As the wheel4 is raised, the plow disks 8 are permitted to sink deeper into theground, and the wheels 6 and 7 are adjusted to level the carrying frameto even the operation of the plow disks. It is understood that the wheel6 runs in the furrow previously formed, while the wheel 7 tracks on theunplowed land. To prevent drift in the machine the wheel 4 is providedwith a central colter flange 50, as best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.The height of the frame having been adjusted, and the motor 29 havingbeen started, the clutch 37 is thrown into engagement by means of thelever 37 with the wheel 30 thus starting the main driving shaft 30. Thelever 34 is then moved to throw the clutch 34 to engage the wheel 34,thereby rotating the shaft 33, and through the gear 36 rotating thetraction wheel 4. The machine gathering headway, the lever 26 is thenshifted to engage the countershaft 18 with the one or other of thewheels 20 or 30, thereby selecting the rate of rotation of the disks 8,8. It will be observed that the disks 8, 8 bury the teeth 13, 13 in theground at the bottom of the furrow formed by the said disks, and add atraction impulse to the plow in aid of the traction mechanism as exertedupon and by the wheel 4.

In the operation of the disks 8, 8, the transmission mechanismoperatively connecting the shaft 30 and the said disks may be arrangedto drive the disks at a rate of speed exceeding the peripheral speed ofthe wheel 4, thereby causing the disks 8, 8 to saw or separate the earthand to shatter the same, tearing it from the surrounding earth in amanner to gap or part the overturned earth.

When the plow thus constructed arrives at the end of a furrow theoperator manipulates the lever 34 to disengage the shaft 33 from thegear wheel 34 and the driving mechanism connected therewith to permitthe wheel 4 to stop. The driving of the disks 8, 8 being continued afterthe wheel 4 has stopped, the said disks assist in swinging the framearound the wheel 4. In this operation the wheels 6 and 7, if desired,may be permitted to swing as caster wheels, or may be guided by asuitable guiding mechanism to be added to the machine as abovementioned. When the machine has been turned at the proper angle to thefurrow just completed, the clutch 34 is engaged with the wheel 34,starting the rotation of the traction wheel 4, and the plow nowprogresses on the changed furrow.

When it is desired to move the plow over a public road or through fieldsnot to be plowed, the clutch 23 is adjusted to a position intermediatethe wheels 20 and 30, and out of engagement with both of said wheels. Inthis position of the clutch 23 the countershaft 18 is held inactive andthe disks 8, 8 arrested. The wheels 4, 6 and 7 are then adjusted to liftthe frame and plows carried thereby until the said plows are hoistedabove the surface of the ground. The clutch 34 is then thrown intoengagement to operate the traction wheel 4, by which the machine is thendriven. The shaft 30 and the motor 29 are supported by a lifted frameformed by the curved beams 17, 17, as shown best in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. The frame formed by the beams 17 lifts the motor, as shown insaid Fig. 1, above the wheels 16, 19, 21 and 21 and chains connectedtherewith.

As shown in the drawings, and particularly in Fig. 2 thereof, the wheels16, 19, 21 and 21 are provided with clutches 16*, 22, 22 and 24, by theengagement whereof the said clutches lock each of the said wheels uponthe shaft 18. This construction secures for the machine a flexibility ofoperation, making it possible to disconnect each of the said wheels andplow disks connected therewith from the shaft 18. The said clutches aremanipulated by the levers 25 and 27.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

l. A motor disk plow, comprising a plurality of rotatable disks each ofwhich is provided with teeth on its periphery; a plurality of framessupporting said disks; a main frame by which said frames are carried;rotatable members on each disk frame and the main frame; and a chainpassing around the said rotatable members and engaging the teeth on thedisk whereby the disk may be rotated.

2. A motor disk plow, comprising a plurality of rotatable disks each ofwhich is provided with teeth on its periphery; a plurality of framessupporting said disks; a main frame by which said frames are carried;rotatable members on each disk frame and on the main frame; chainspassing around the said rotatable members and engaging the teeth on saiddisks at the top thereof whereby the disks may be rotated; a drivingmechanism for said rotatable members; and a clutch mechanism forengaging the said rotatable members and said. driving mechanism.

3. A motor disk plow, comprising a plurality of rotatable disks each ofwhich is provided with teeth on its periphery; a plurality of framessupporting said disks; a main frame by which said frames are carried;rotatable members on each disk frame and on the main frame; chainspassing around the said rotatable members and engaging the teeth on saiddisks at the top thereof whereby the disks may be rotated;-

a driving mechanism for said rotatable members; and separate clutchmechanisms for engaging each of said rotatable members and said drivingmechanism.

4. In a motor disk plow embodying a.

gear-tooth-like peripheral extensions for engagement With said drivingchains of the driving mechanism.

In testimony Whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN M. HENTON. WVitnesses:

WV. T. STANLEY, C. A. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. C.

